Debates have been a valuable tool for voters

In this election year filled with nasty accusations and half-truth advertisements (by both major parties) we find one positive.

Let this be known as the year of the debate.

Presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial, vice presidential - we've seen all of those in recent days as campaigns and voters count down to the Nov. 6 election. It is clear that voters have a choice of candidates with a wide range of political views.

The debates continue today when Indiana Senate candidates Richard Mourdock and Joe Donnelly face off at 7 p.m. at Indiana University-Southeast in New Albany.

Republican Mitt Romney soundly outpointed President Barack Obama in their first debate and made the incumbent look unprepared and defensive. In the second presidential debate, Obama fired back from the get-go in what almost became a boxing match between the two contenders.

Last night's third and final Obama-Romney debate focused on foreign policy with Obama throwing some jabs and Romney doing a good job of not saying anything to erode the gains he has made since the first debate.

The two Indiana gubernatorial debates so far have been ones of contrast. The Terre Haute Tribune-Star in an editorial accurately described the matchup as "the homey humor and poison darts of Democrat John Gregg, the buttoned-down efficiency and modulated comebacks of Republican Mike Pence (the front-runner in the polls), the outsider-with-ideas approach and comic relief of Libertarian Rupert Boneham."

The three will debate their final time at 7 p.m. Thursday in Fort Wayne.

There has been nothing boring about this year's debates.

With a backdrop of economic woes at home to growing unrest around the globe, all of these debates have served the voters well.

Now it's up to those voters.

Forget the spin the political pundits try to force feed us. We got to see candidates go at it one-on-one. Certainly they had been coached and they launched a few scripted zingers, but we got a good look at the candidates - what they believe, what they are going to do if elected and how they will conduct themselves on the world stage.

In closing last night's debate, moderator Bob Schieffer gave the viewing public the same advice he says he received from his mother many years ago ... "Go vote. It makes you feel big and strong."